More Asians and Maori - The changing face of Tauranga
More Asians and Maori - The changing face of Tauranga - The city's increasing ethnic diversity and the ageing of the population are key building blocks underpinning the development of the council's vision for the city - the 2018-28 Long Term Plan. Statistics New Zealand data said the Maori proportion of the population would grow 2 per cent to reach 21 per cent by 2028 - the same increase as the Asian population that would reach 10 per cent. Asians included migrants from the Indian sub-continent. And Tauranga residents in the 65 plus retirement bracket have been forecasted to make up 23 per cent of the population by 2028 - up 4 per cent on next year's projected proportion of elderly residents. Responding to the projections, New Zealand China Friendship Society Tauranga branch president John Hodgson said work needed to be done to encourage integration.